Dozens of states currently have HIV criminal laws that are based on long-outdated and inaccurate beliefs rather than current science. Such laws further perpetuate misconceptions about HIV risk and transmission, and they increase stigma against people living with HIV. By placing those who are aware of their HIV-positive status at increased risk of prosecution, HIV criminal laws contradict public health goals seeking to increase the number of people who know their HIV status. HIV criminal laws also keep some individuals from receiving HIV testing and engaging in care and treatment.

AIDS United supports repealing and replacing state laws that criminalize HIV with laws that limit prosecutions of people living with HIV for exposure or transmission unless there is specific intent to transmit and urges further efforts at the federal level to document the negative impact of such laws and advocate for their removal. Learn more in the HIV Criminalization brief.